Electrical connection means



Sept. 24, 1940. w. Scl-1Min ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANS Filed June 21. 1957 /NvE/vToR M///fam Schmid.

nTTore/VEY Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION MEANSv Application June 21, 1937, Serial No. 149,512

4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to electrical connection means, and more particularly has to do with means for resiliently retaining a terminal.

One object of the invention is to provide connection means including in combination, a shell, terminal receiving means, resilient means, and an insert, all of which are preferably assembled to a mountingl plate preferably of insulating ma terial to constitute a unit, which may be mounted on a support in relation to some electrical device.

Another object is to design and construct the insert whereby its upper extremity acts as adetent, which cooperates with the terminal receivt ing means to resiliently retain a terminal.

Another object is to provide the lower extremity of the said insert with means whereby a conductor may be either xedly or resili'ently detachably connected thereto.

A further object is to provide the shell with means for holding the parts of the unit in assembly with the mounting plate, and also with means whereby the complete unit may be permanently connected to some support or device.

A still further object ofthe invention is to construct a connection means which may be economically manufactured commercially, and one which is durable and effective in operation mechanically and electrically.

Referring to the drawing wherein the parts of the device forming the invention are identified by numerals:

Figure 1 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the unit as applied to a support;

Figure 2 is an upstanding view, on a smaller scale, showing the unit prior to being assembled with the support shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section. on a reduced scale, taken substantially on line 3--3 of Figure 1, clearly showing in detail a part of the insert member above referred to;

Figure 4 is a bottom view,`on a very small scale, of the assembly shown in Figure l;

Figure 5 is a top view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 6 is Van upstanding view of the modification shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the unit in Figure 6 assembled with a support;

and,

Figure 8 is a section taken substantially on line 8--8 of Figure 7 showing the manner in which the lower extremity of the insert is adapted to detachably resiliently retain a terminal.

It will be evident upon referring to the drawing that the connection means is of such a character that electrical connection can be made therethrough from one side of a support to the opposite side.

In the drawing, I indicates a mounting plate 5 preferably of insulating material; 2, a cylindrical shell; 3, a moveable terminal receiving means;

l 4, a resilient means in the form of a coiled compressible spring; and 5, is a stationary insert, all of which are preferably assembled to the lo plate whereby to constitute the unit shown in Figure 2. This unit is adapted to be permanently secured to a suitable support as shown in Figure 1, and is insulated therefrom.

Considering in detail the principles of design 15 and construction, the plate I of insulating material is provided with two arcuate slots 6,- diametrically arranged, and a rectangular slot 'I midway therebetween.

The shell 2 is of metal,` and is preferably in 20 the form of an inverted cylindrical cup, and its upper `extremity is provided with a rectangular aperture 8 through which the terminal receiving means 3 extends. The side wall of the shell is preferably provided with a pair of outwardly ex- 25 tending circular flanges 9, diametrieally arranged, which bear against the upper surface of the plate I; and the wall is further formed with a pair of elongated continuations IIJ, which are diametrically 'arranged between said anges 9, 30 and extended through the arcuate slots 6 in the plate I. The wall is also provided with a pair of relatively short lugs II adjacent the continuations I0, and these also extend through the arcuate slots 6, and when the parts of the unit are 35 assembled these lugs II are bent inwardly laterally against the under surface of the plate I as clearly shown.

The terminal receiving means 3 is made of metal formed to provide a tubular body I2 pref- 40 erably rectangular in cross section, having a substantially cylindrical transverse terminal receiving aperture I3 adjacent its upper extremity, and a pair of laterally extending iianges I4 at its v lower extremity. More specifically the body I2 45 includes a pair of channel portions I5 joined together by a connecting loop IB, the portions I1 thereof forming two of the walls of the body. These portions I1 as indicated at I8 terminate short of the loop I6, and are so designed adja 50 cent the loop to conform to and form a part of the cylindrical terminal receiving aperture, so that a terminal of the character shown in Figure 'I may be easily inserted into the aperture. Ro-

tation of the terminal receiving means 3, or body 5g I2 with respect to the shell 24 is avoided, since the means extend through the rectangular aperture 8 in the shell 2.

'Ihe insert 5, above mentioned, extends through the rectangular slot 1 provided in the plate I, and the upper extremity I9 of the insert is .of a size whereby the same will extend within the tubular body I2. A pair of rounded projections a're struck outwardly from the opposite sides of the upper extremity I9, and these engage the walls of the body to center the insert longitudinally therein. The end of the upper extremity of the insert provides a detent to hold the terminal that is adapted to be inserted into the cylindrical aperture, and to better accommodate a terminal, an arcuate seat 20 is provided adjaf cent the upper end of the extremity.

The insert intermediate its ends, is also provided with a pair of' spaced apart stops 2l projecting laterally from one side thereof, and these abut the upper surface of the plate I, and s'erve to position the seat 20 in a predetermined relation with respect to the terminal receiving aperture I3.

The compressible spring 4 encircles the body I2 forming the terminal receiving means, and as clearly shown, one end of this spring engages the upper end extremity of the shell 2, and its opposite end engages the laterally extending flanges I4 in a manner whereby to normally urge said flanges against the stops 2| provided on the insert, and holds the parts in a predetermined relation, particularly the body in an erect position. This is particularly true when the unit shown in Figure 1 is secured in an inverted or horizontal position to some mechanism or support. When a terminal of the character shown in Figure 'I is inserted into the terminal receiving aperture, the terminal receiving means 3, or in other words, the body I2 will be urged outwardly against the action of the spring, and when the groove 22 in the terminal cooperates with the seat 28 in the insert, the body I2 will substantially return to its original position, forcing the terminal against the insert in order to provide a good electrical connection.

Although the lower extremity 23 of the insert 5 is preferably of a greater width than the upper extremity, it may be otherwise constructed. It it to be noted that the lower extremity is preferably of a length whereby to extend entirely through and clear of the means employed for fastening the unit with respect to the support shown in Figure 1, and is provided with an aperture 24 through which a conductor may be inserted and suitably secured, such as by soldering; and by reason of the stops 2I on the insert, any accidental pull on a conductor secured to the insert will not in any way release a terminal located in the terminal receiving aperture I3.

Referring to Figure l, it will be clearly evident that the unit shown in Figure 2 is adapted to be mounted on a support 25 adjacent to some electrical device. 'I'he support is provided with a circular aperture 28, and a washer 21 of insulating material is preferably arranged adjacent the lower surface of the support, and is so constructed and arranged that the annular reduced portion 28 thereof i-lts snugly within the aperture 26; and the continuations I0 formed on the shell 2 are adapted to project through a rather large opening 29 provided in the washer 21, and through arcuate slots 30 provided in a metal washer 3|, and the ends are then clinched In this arrangement, the unit includes a plate y 50 of insulating material, a cylindrical shell 5|, a coiled spring 52 surrounding the terminal receiving means 53, and an insert 54, all of which are assembled together in substantially the same manner as above described, the shell among other things being provided with flanges and lugs corresponding to those above referred to.

The insert as here shown is comprised of a single strip of sheet metal which is folded back upon itself as indicated at 55 in order to provide a rounded detent portion 56 that is adapted to cooperate with the groove 22 in the terminal. By reason of the offsets, shoulders are provided on the insert, and these position the detent 56 in a predetermined position with respect to the terminal receiving aperture 10. The lower extremity of the insert 54 is preferably provided with three offset elongated resilient fingers 51 and 58. The two fingers 51 are of the same character, while the finger 58 is shorter, of a greater width, and is provided with a detent 59 adjacent its free end. As clearly shown, the plate 50 is provided with suitable arcuate slots 60 and 6|, through which the fingers 51 and 58 project. A11 of the fingers 51 and 58 function to resiliently hold the terminal in relation thereto, and the detent 58 provided on the vfinger 58 is adapted to cooperate with the groove 22 in the terminal and the arrises' 63 on the fingers 51 engage the spaced apart lands 64 and 65 on the terminal 62. Thus a good electrical connection is provided between a terminal that is adapted to be inserted into the terminal receiving aperture 10, and the terminal 62 adapted to be held by the lower extremity of the insert.

This modified form of unit is also adopted to be mounted on a support such as 66, which has an aperture therein, and it has also been found desirable to use an insulating Washer such as 61 without including a metallic washer such as 3| above referred to. As clearly shown the washer 61 is provided with an aperture of a relatively large diameter in order that the fingers 51 and 58 may fiex without interference when the terminal 62 is being connected to or disconnected therefrom. The continuations 68 formed on the shell 5| are, of course, adapted to extend through the aperture in the support 66, and the aperture provided in the Washer 61, and the ends of the continuations 68 are clinched outwardly and over against the under surface of the washer 61 in order to hold the unit in a fixed position with respect to the support.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of the invention; and, therefore, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact forms, constructions, arrangements, and combination of parts, herein shown and described.

lll

iti

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Electrical connection means, including a plate, means for receiving a terminal carried by said plate, a sheet metal insert loosely operatively related to said receiving means with one extremity of the insert acting as a detent to hold a terminal adapted to be placed in said receiving means, resilient means pressing said insert against said plate and maintaining said insert erect with respect to said receiving means and operatively related to said receiving means for holding a terminal placed therein in electrical engagement with said insert, theother end of said insert being extended and provided with flexible means whereby to resiliently retain a terminal.

2. Electrical connection means; including in combination; a mounting plate; means for receiving a plug conductor terminal carried by said plate; a sheet metal insert loosely mounted on said plate having an upper extremity, and a flexible lower extremity extended through said plate whereby a conductor may be detachably connected thereto; stop means provided on said insert engaging said plate and abutting said receiving means whereby to arrange said upper extremity in a predetermined relation with respect to said receiving means and an arrangement whereby accidental pull on a conductor attached to said lower extremity will not affect the position of said insert to release a terminal placed in said terminal receiving means and resilient means normally holding said receiving means in engagement with said stop and said stop against said plate.

3. Electrical connection means including an apertured metal support, a plate of insulating material disposed on each side of said support covering said aperture, a cylindrical shell arranged on one side of said support and provided with flanges in abutment with one of said plates, means extending through said plates and said aperture in said support and bent laterally with respect to one of said plates to secure said shell in place, an aperture provided in said shell, a tubular body projecting through said aperture in said shell and provided with a terminal receiv ing aperture arranged transversely to the axis W of said body, flanges provided on said body, an

elongated substantially ilat insertmember extending within said tubular body and through said plates and through the aperture in said support, the upper end of'said insert intersecting said terminal receiving aperture and provided with a seat adapted to cooperate with a terminal, the lower end of said insert being extended clear of said support whereby a conductor may be secured thereto, abutment means provided on said insert member engaging said one of said plates of insulating material, and spring means pressing the ange's of said body against said abutment means and the latter against said one plate to maintain the upper and lower ends of said insert as specied, said spring means also acting to press a terminal placed in said terminal receiving aperture into engagement with the seat provided in said insert.

4. Electrical connection means including an apertured support, a plate of insulating material disposed on each side of said support covering said aperture, a cylindrical shell arranged on one side of said support and provided with flanges in abutment with one of said plates, means extending through said plates and said aperture in said support and bent laterally with respect to said plates to secure said shell in place, an aperture provided in said shell, an arched body projecting through said aperture in said shell and provided with a conductor receiving aperture, projecting means provided on said body, an elongated insert member extending within said arched body and through said plates and through the aperture in said support, the upper end of said insert intersecting said conductor receiving aperture whereby to cooperate with a conductor adapted to be inserted into said aperture, the lower end of said insert being extended clear of said support whereby a conductor may be secured thereto, abutment means provided on said insert engaging one of said plates of insulating material, and resilient means pressing the projections of said body against said abutment means and the latter against said one plate whereby to maintain the upper and lower ends of said insert as specified, said resilient means also acting to press a terminal placed in said terminal receiving aperture into engagement with the upper end of said insert.

WILLIAM SCHMID. 

